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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Apr 14, 2026 10:44 IST
CAT 2026 exam will be of 204 marks. Check here all the details about CAT total marks and number of questions here. Also know the marking scheme and sectional weightage so that you know how much preparation is required for which section of the CAT. Read here.

Check here CAT exam total marks and number of questions. Also know the marking scheme and sectional weightage of CAT 2026 so that you know how much preparation is required for which section.

CAT total marks and number of questions

CAT total marks and number of questions

CAT is an exam of 68 questions only but the challenge is managing a good number of attempts out of them to get a good score. There is sectional time limit in the exam to help candidates manage each section, however, it often poses challenge in solving enough number of questions accurately to get a good score. Total marks in CAT is 204 and it is essential to aim about 125 marks to get 99.99 percentile. As you start your CAT 2026 preparation journey, make a strategy keeping in mind CAT total marks and your target percentile score.

Table of contents
  • CAT Total Marks and Number of Questions
  • CAT Marking Scheme 2026
  • CAT Section Wise Number of Attempts
  • CAT Total Marks and Number of Questions Over the Years

CAT Total Marks and Number of Questions

There is no change in the test pattern of the CAT exam from previous year. Given below is the table indicating CAT total marks and number of questions for 2026 examination.

CAT Sections

CAT Total Question

Marks Per Question

Total Marks of CAT

VARC

24

3

72

DILR

 

22

3

66

Quantitative Aptitude

22

3

66

CAT Total Marks

68

-

205

Also read:

CAT Marking Scheme 2026

CAT marking scheme is designed in a way that the candidate is judged neither too leniently nor too strictly. There is negative marking for incorrect attempts, at the same time, there is relief from it too. Check below CAT marking scheme.

  • CAT exam total marks is 204
  • Every question will carry 3 marks
  • There will be negative marking of -1 for incorrect attempts
  • There will be no negative marking for non-MCQ questions
  • Negative marking does not apply to non-MCQs and unanswered questions

CAT Section Wise Number of Attempts

CAT 2026 will have 68 questions but it will not be mandatory to attempt all the questions. Candidates must however, make sure to attempt a good number of questions per section to get a good CAT score and percentile. During the CAT 2026 preparation, candidates should attempt mock tests keeping in mind the same. Given below is the estimated number of good attempts for CAT 2026:

CAT  Section

Number of Questions in CAT

Number of Good Attempts

VARC

24

18

DILR

22

15

Quantitative Aptitude

22

16

Total

68

47

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CAT Total Marks and Number of Questions Over the Years

Marking scheme of CAT exam has not changed in the last decade, but CAT total marks and number of questions have been revised multiple times. Check below CAT exam total marks and number of questions over the years:

CAT Year

Number of Questions

Total Marks

2025

68

204

2024

68

204

2023

66

198

2022

66

198

2021

66

198

2020

76

228

2019

100

300

2018

100

300

2017

100

300

2016

100

300

2015

100

300

2014

100

300

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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8

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As per my knowledge, Yes If you've worked hard for your CAT score and you're now wondering whether DBS Global University will accept it For MBA admission at DBS Global University, a valid CAT score is accepted alongside MAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT, and the DBS Global University Entrance Examination. Regist

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No, CAT is not compulsory to get admission in Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management. The college offers admission into MBA bvased on NUCAT scores. Other entrance exams accepted by the college include: CAT, MAT, CMAT, or KMAT.

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Raj Priya

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CAT is compulsory to take admission in MBA and MBA IB courses offered by the Institute of Management Studies of BHU (formerly known as FMS BHU). Admission to these courses is based on candidates' performance in CAT, GD-PI and past academic records.

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Himanshi Pandey

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Answered 3 days ago

No, CAT is not compulsorily required to get admission in RV University. The university considers score of nationally approved admission test (such as CAT, GMAT, NMAT, XAT), with high scores in English & numerical ability for admission into MBA.

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Raj Priya

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Dear reader,

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Aston Martin

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Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes. IIMB does require the CAT exam, but the rest of the top B-schools in Bangalore also take in candidates through the state-level CET, ie, the Karnataka PGCET exam, or through MAT or CMAT. 

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Cutoffs Required

Alliance University Karnataka PGCET Cutoff

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Saurabh Khanduri

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